Date pitting machine



Sept. l5, 1931. A. K. SMITH DATE FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l NJK llllllll.

A TTORNEY Sept. l5, 1931'. A, K sMn-H 1,823,425

DATE FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LILI'. l.

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A TTORNEY A. K. SMITH DATE FITTING CHINE Filed Nov. 25. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTm-vrt ./ZZerZ dymz'i ATTORNEY spt. 15, 1931.

A. K. SMITH DATE FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept l5, 1931. A. K. sMl'rH DATE FITTING MACHINE Filed Nov.' 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 15, 19,31J

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT K. SMITH, 0F WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE HILLS BROTHERS COMPANY, INC., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK i DATE PITTING MACHINE Application filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,416.

This invention relates to date pitting ma- 5 November 18, 1927.

Inlmy copending applications I have shown and described date pitting machines in which the dates are supported in a carrier and the pit removed by first deiinitelycentering the pit, slitting the date longitudinally from end to end, spreading the date and then removing the pit from the datek through the slit made therein. In these machines I have provided means for passing the date over a cutting edge which is stationary relatively to the direction of movement of the date, and have provided means for thereafter spreading the split date and removing the pit therefrom.

In my present application I disclose a machine employingthe same steps as disclosed in my prior applications'and in which the date is similarly passed over the extracting elements by means of a moving carrier, but in which the date is slit and spread by the same instrumentality, such as a knife moving in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement of the carrier. For this purpose I provide a sectional knife each part of which is given a compound movement, one move- 'i ment toward the date for making an incision therein and a second movement away from the date for spreading the cut date'to permit extraction of the pit through the incision. rlilhere is also provided a transfer conveyor for conveying the dates to the carrier which cooperates with a separate transfer member for passing the date from the conveyor to the date pocket in the carrier. Additional means vare pro-vided for retaining -the date in the carrier ,during the pit extraction, for maintaining the extracting elements clean and free from date meat, and for positively discharging the pitted date from the carrier.

The machine will be described with more particularity with particular reference to the drawings in which: i Fig. 1 is a side eelvation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is va horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of-Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the spreading action of the sectional knife;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the center of the front end of the machine illustrating the transferring action;

-F ig. 7 is an offcenter section taken through the rear end of the machine illustrating the date ejecting operation, and

Fig. 8 is a detail of the date ejector return mechanism.

The entire machine is mounted upon a bed plate l which has a vertical spindle 2 secured to the front end thereof, upon which a rotary disk transfer conveyor 3 having a series of radially disposed date pockets 4 arranged around the periphery thereof is mounted for rotation above and parallel to the bed plate, this conveyor serves to automatically feed dates to a kreciprocating carrier slidingly mounted over said bed plate later to be described. A substantially circular plate 5 having the center and rear portion thereof cut away is supported upon studs 6 threaded into the bed 1 supporting the plate so as to underliethe major portion of conveyor 3 and in position to close the bottoms of pockets 4 with the exception of the rearmost pocket. A band 7 surrounds the periphery-of the conveyor 3 and thereby closes the outer ends of the pockets. Vire springs 8 (Fig. 2)V are provided and project into the pockets to center the dates therein and to aid in retaining the dates inthe pockets. A substantial fiat U-shaped slide 10 is mounted for sliding movement within the center cut away portion of plate 5 and is disposed therein flush with the Lipper surface of the plate and is normally urged rearwardly, or to the left, by springs 11 thus completing thevcontinuity of the periphery of plate 5. A rearwardly projecting flat finger 12 is secured to the rear edge of the slide 10 and is spaced substantially below the lower surface thereof by a block 13 for reasons appearing hereafter. 'The under surface of conveyor 3 has arcuate notches 100 15 formed therein of equal number to the date pockets 4 which notches' have an abrupt side wall upon one side thereof approached by an inclined arcuate surface from the other side thereof. A leaf spring 16 projecting upwardly through an aperture in plate 5 engages in notches 15 and limits rotation of the conveyor to one direction. The conveyor is rotated by means of an arm 17 having a small linger-like plunger 18 pivotally secured in the outer end thereof and constantly urged upwardly by a spring 19 in a position to engage in notches 15. Arm 17 is secured to the top of a sleeve 2O rotatable about spindle 2. The lower end of sleeve 20 carries another arm 21 to which is pivotally attached an actuating rod 22 extendingrearwardly above the face of plate, 1 and is spaced therefrom by rests 23. IRod 22 isnormally urged forward by a spring 26 and terminates in an upturned end 24 into which is threaded a stud 25l for a purpose later to be described.

A substantially rectangular shaped carrier 30 `having a date pocket 30a in the center thereof is mounted for reciprocation for substantially the ent-ire length of bed plate 1 and for this purpose has its longer sides thereof grooved to receive tongues 31 constituting the side edges of two horizontal guide plates 32 bolted indirectly to each side of the bed plate and spaced therefrom by two horizontal cam lbar s 33 positioned above two spacing strips 34 extendingsubstantially the full length of the bed plate along each side thereof but stopping slightly short of the front end.

Tongues 31 extend sufficiently far forward to permit carrier 30v to slide under the rear portion of conveyor 3 to a position where. pocket 30a will be directly under the rearmost pocket 4 in the conveyor. As carrier 30 moves forward to this position itr will strike the slide 10 and carry it forward against the force of spring 11 and uncover the bottom of the rearmost pocket 4 lying directly over pocket 30a. Tongue 12 will then underlie pocket 30a and close the same. Y n

The side -walls of the carrier 30 opposite the pocket 30a are chambered and bored to receivetwo` sliding pin blocks 37 each having threevhorizontal inwardly projecting pins 38 terminating in vertically disposed positioning blades 39 extending therefrom and adapted to reach into pocket 30a and penetrate the date therein to cen er the pit within theY date. The pin blocks are also provided with upwardly projecting cam pins 40 (Figs. 3 and 4) which travel in cam grooves 41 cut into the under-surface of rails 32. At

Vthe conveyor theyconver'ge and approach the 'center Yof the machine,'-thus moving blocks 3,7 and consequently blades 39 toward each adapted to travel along the upper surface of bed plate 1 and over cam blocks 48 secured to the bed to simultaneously raise the lower blocks 44 at predetermined points Valong the reciprocatory path ofk the carrier. Each block 44 is also chambered to provide a transverse ydovetailed groove to accommodate therein a similarly shaped knife slide 49 each of which carries a blade 50 upon the inner face thereof which blades are adapted to come together and form a single cutting knife terminating in a common cutting edge along the top thereof. The outer ends of slides-49 carry pins 50a (F ig. 4) projecting upwardly therefrom'and engaging in cam grooves 51 cut into the under surface of cam bars 33. At the front of the machine grooves 51 are relatively widely separated as are grooves 41. As grooves 51 recede to the rear of the machine they converge toward the center of the machine to bring the blades 50 of the knife together just prior to the time when rollers 47 ride up upon cam blocks 48thus holding the blades together as the knife is raised to make an incision` in the date. At a point opposite to the high point ofcam block 48 cam grooves 51 diverge a dis-tance approximately equal to that of the diameter'vv of the date pit which separates blades 5 0 to spread the side walls of the date. Grooves 51 remain relatively widely separated for the rest of their length.

A piti-ejector for extracting thepits from dates is secured to the bed plate beneathl the carrieryand in the path thereof and takes the form of a rectangular chute55, the width of which is approximately the diameterof a date pit. The front edge 56 is concaved at the upper end to permit the date to pass thereover and is of proper width to scrape the inner surfaces of blades 50 Vas they are carried past the extractor. The rearV wall of the extractor is straight across'the upper edge thereof and is adapted to Contact with the pit in the date as the slit and spread date is carried-by the carrier over the ejector, the pit thereby falling down into the chute and through an aperture in the bed of the machine. A suction device (not shown) may be attached to this aperture if so desired to aid in the extraction of the pits, as disclosed in application Serial No. 234,082, .filed Novem-v ber 18, 1927. i'

wise direction .and accordingly. ejector 58y downwardly. Ejector 58' is `retained `in its horizontal position by engagement of arm 61 in the hooked end of a pawl lever 63 extending upwardly from and pivotally secured to the bed. Lever 63 is normally urged in contact with arm 61 by means of a spring 64`surrounding a stud 65 extending from a cross rod 66 and `projecting through an aperture in pawl 63. Pawl 63 is also provided with a set screw 67 which projects inwardly from the pawland isadapted to be struck by carrier 30 as it reaches the limit of its rearward motion to rotate pawl 63 about itsrpivot to release arm'61 and allow spring 62 to rotateshaft 61 and throw the ejector downwardly. Shaft 60 has rigidly secured thereto upon its opposite end a third arm 68 to which is secured a lug 69 adapted to be engaged b a lever 70 pivoted to the rear end of one o the knife blocks 44. Lever 7 0 is constantly urged upwardly by a spring 71 and has formed in the end thereof a finger 72 inclined upwardly at its rear surface 73. As carrier 30 moves rearwardly and approaches the end of its stroke, the inclined ksurface 73 will strike lug 69 and force lever 7 O downwardly rockingit about its pivot. Upon the return stroke, however, the lug 69 will be positively engaged by linger 72 and shaft 6() will b-e positively engaged by linger 72 and shaft 60 will be rotated counter-clockwise thus restoring ejector 58 to its horizontal position to be relatched by pawl 63 and arni 61. 'As carrier 30 nears the rearmost limit it also strikes stud 25 thus carrying rod 22 rearwardly rotating conveyor .3 against the retarding action of ay resiliently mo-unted frictional drag 74, a circumferential distance equal to the distance between two pockets 4 therein.

A pair of longitudinal side plates 75 and 76j are supported vertically on edge, spaced from and parallel to cam bars V33, above and on each side of the path of carrier 30 by means of angle brackets 7 7 bolted to the side plates and/to the spacing strips 34 through guidebars 32. `rlhe front end of plate 76 has adovetailed groove cut vertically therein to permit a sliding connection with a transfer plunger 78 having afsimilarfshaped eXtension sliding in thek groove'. Plunger '7 8 serves to` transfer the dates from conveyors to pocket 30a in the carrier, when pocket 30a is in its foremost position and underlying pivotally attached to the end of a lever 82 pivoted intermediate its ends at 83 to plate 75.- The free end of lever 82 projects downwardly into the path of a finger 85 pivotally mounted in a recess in the top of carrier 30, and having its rear edge spring pressed upwardly, thus presenting an inclined surface adapted to ride under the end of lever 82'upon forward movement but to positively engage lever 82 upon rearward movement and to rotate lever 82 clockwise about itspivot 83 thereby rotating link 79 counter-clockwise and raising plunger 78 against the action of spring 87. Spring 87 is secured at one end to an angular bent rod 88 extending from and attached to the top of plunger 78 and is secured at the other end to plate 7 5,*thus constantly urging plunger 78 downwardly. Plunger 78 is normally held up above conveyor 3 by engagement of a tapered dog 89, projecting outwardly from the extension'of said plunger, with a trip lever 9() pivoted within its length at 91 to plate 7 Gand constantly urged in a clockwise direction by spring 92. The lower end of lever 90 lies in the path of a pin 94 extending laterally from carrier 30. As carrier 30 approaches the forward end of its stroke, pin 94 strikes the end of lever 90 thus rotating lever 90 counter-clockwise and freeing it from engagement with dog 89 and allowing spring 87 to force plunger 78 downward just as pocket 30a reaches a position directly under the rear pocket 4 in conveyor 3. Carrier 36 on its rear stroke, rotates lever 82 clockwise thus raising plunger 78 again and causing it to be relatched in its raised position by trip lever 90.

- A second plunger 96 is provided to retain the date in the carrier after being deposited therein by plunger 78 and to aid in the extraction of the pit from the date during its passage over the extracting elements. Plunger 96 is slidingly mounted on a slide block 97 for vertical movement relative to the slide block by means of a dovetailed sliding jointure. Block 97 in turn is mounted for horizontal sliding mov/ ement along the inner surface of plate 76 and is heldthereagainst byV an upper guide strip 98 and a lower guide strip 99. Vertical movement of the plunger during this horizontal movement is controlled by a cam track 100 formed in plate 75 and in which a cam roller 101 travels. Cam track 100 is relatively high i. e. spaced from carrier 30,

lrnediately drops a slight vertical distance by plate 105 secured to the plunger.

when in a position corresponding to that where cam tracks 41 converge tobring the centering pins together. Track 100 takes .a kfurther drop when in a position over the pit ejector land takes a still further drop when over the date eXtractorfthus forcing the plunger 96 downwardly, rst to hold the date while the pit is being centered, the date cut and spread, Secondly, while the pit is being ejected to insure its engagement with the ejector, and thirdly7 to free the pitted date from the Ycarrier and to cause it tobe engaged bythe date ejector. Plunger 96 is provided upon its lower end with a resili- *ently mounted tip 104 suspended from the plunger by means of two dowel studs 105 (Fig) threaded into the tip and having shoulders intermediate their length engaged A pair of springs 106 aroundthe pins between the shoulders and plunger 96 and resiliently urge the tip downwardly at all times. Plunger'96 and slide l97 are adapted to be connected to the carrier to beV attached to and reciprocated therewith after plunger 78 hasbeen raised and carrier 30 has passed from beneath said plunger and are adapted to be released from lthe carrier upon its re-v turn stroke to enable the carrier to travel und-er conveyor 3 to have another datey deposited therein. VF or this purposel a locking link 107 is pivoted to a stationary link 108 secured fast to slide 97 and has a hook 109 upon its free end projecting downwardly to engage in a recess 110 in the top surface of carrier 30. This-locking connection also serves to position plunger 96 directly over pocket 30a in carrier 30. The forward hooked end 109 of locking link 107 also has a pin 111 projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to ride under the rear edge of lower guide strip '99, which strip has an upwardlyl inclined slot 112, for1ned at its forward end.'

Thus as carrier 30 makes itsforward stroke, pin 111 will engage in slot 112 andraise locking` link 109 out of engagement with recess 110 thus permitting carrier 30 to continue the stroke without the accompaniment of plunger 96 and receive another date from conveyor 3.

In order lto maintain the knife, ejector,

and centering pins clean and free from date 'j meat and syrup, plunger 96 has a central bore 115 extending the full length thereof which bore has a sliding connection throughV tubeY 1.16 to the tip 104 also bored bothv vertically and transversely to provide a plurality of openings leading from the tube 116 to the lower surface of the tip. Theupper end' of the bore in plunger 96 is connected to any suitable source of steam or waterthrough a cockv 117. VThe rotary core of cock 117 has jI an arm 1,18frigidly secured thereto having a lower stop portionV ll9engaging the top of plunger 96 to limit the rotation of the core of the cockin'a clockwise rotation .and an upper Vportion having an inclined edge 120 adapted-to engage the lower edgel of a horizontal lever 1'21'h-aving a notch 122 cut therein within its length and .being pivoted at one vend 123 to a post 124 secured to the top ofV guide strip 98. Arm'11`8 is constantly urged in a clockwise direction by spring 125 whereas lever 121 is constantly urged in a clockwise direction against the stop 126 by spring 121. As plunger 96 moves to the left or rearwardly the inclined edge 120 will ride under lever 121 raising it uponits pivot 123. Upon the forward stroke, the top of arm 118 will engage notch 122 and arm 118 will thereby be rotated counterwise opening cock 117 and permitting steam or water, as the case may be, to flow down through vplunger 96 and tip 104 to thor-oughly cleanse the ejecting elements. v

For operating the carrier, 'conveyor and associated parts, a pair of links 127'are pivotally connected to the rear vend of the carrier at one end thereof :and extend rearwardly of the .machine and may be lconnected to any suitable source for imparting reciprocatory motion thereto of 'a throw equal to the stroke of the sliding movement of carrier 30, which is from a position with pocket 30a :directly under the rearmost pocket 4 in conveyor 3 to a position directly under the rear end :of cam track 1-00.

In summarizing the operation of the machine; an operator places dates in pockets 4 of conveyor 3 as it is rotated in accordance with reciprocations of carrier 30, which dates are carried rearwardly by rotation-of con veyor 3 in a ,position directly over pocket 30a in carrier30 when in its foremost position. At this point slide 10 is also in its foremost position thus uncovering the bottom vof the rearmost pocket 4, and plunger 7 8 has been tripped by contact of pin 94 with lever 90 and plunger 78 has accordingly forced a date from the rearmost pocket 4 -into pocket 30a. Carrier '30 then travels rearwardly, plate 10 receding therewith to again cover the rearmost pocket 4 and pin 110 descends in slot 112 and permits hook 109 to drop into recess 110 thereby joining plunger 96 and slide block 97 to carrier 30. DuringI this movement of carrier 30, cam grooves 41 have forced pins 40 together to bring centering blades 39 into the pocket `30a and into the date therein to center the pit. Finger `85 has also engaged the vlower end of lever v82 to raise plunger 78 upwardly which plunger is locked by engagement of lever 90 with dog 89. During this movement with the carrier 30 the date is retained in pocket 30a by `linger 12 therebelow. As carrier 30 is moved rearwardly and is joined by plunger 96 in slide 97, cam grooves 51 converge and bring vpins 50a together thus closing. together the two blades 50y of the knife. Simultaneously therewith plunger 96 has made its first descent carry# ingtip 104 into pocket 30a toiirmly hold the date therein. As carrier continues its rearward movement rollers 47 travel up cam blocks 48 thereby forcing the knife into the date to make an incision therein and whiletlie rollers are still on blocks 48 cam grooves 51 diverging at this pointfcause the blades 50 to be separated to spread the side walls of the date. Cam grooves 41 also divergeat this point to withdraw centering blades 39. 'Ihe carrier then passes yover pit ejector 58, the front edge of which scrapes the inner surfaces of the blades clean and the rear edge of which engages the pit to extract it from the date. At this point plunger 96 has descended further into pocket 30a thus insuring engagement' of the pit with the rear edge of the ejector. In continuing its rearward movement, carrier 80 travels over date' ejector 58 at which point plunger 96 has taken a still lower dropthus causing the date to be ejected from the carrier or at least engaged by the ejector 58. `As carrier 30 approaches the rear limit of this stroke it engages stud 25 and stud 67. Engagement with "stud 25 causes rod 22 to be moved rearwardly, thus rotating sleeve 20 and arm 17, plunger 18 of which engages in a notch 15 in conveyor '3 and rotates conveyor 3`clockwise to move another pocket 4 having a date thereinv toward the rear. Engagement with stud 67 rotates pawl 63 counter-clockwise thus releasing arm 61 and permitting spring 62 to rotate ejector 58 clockwise toY positively discharge the date from the carrier@ Uponfthe return stroke of carrier 30 toward the right, lug 69 will be engaged by finger 72 and shaft 60 will be rotated counter-clockwise thus returning ejectorv 58 to itsy horizontal position. Upon furtherfforward movement ofthe carrier arm 118 willengage in notch 122 and thereby be rotated counter-clockwise opening cock 117 and permittinga flow of water or steam down through plunger 96 thus cleansing the ejecting elements, after which hook 109 will be raised outof recess 112 thus freeing the carrier. On reaching the forward end of its stroke, carrier 30 Awill again trip plunger 78 and the cycle of operations will be repeated.

It is obvious that,various changes may be made in the detail of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the Vinvention as defined in the appended claims.

` I claim:

1. In a date pitting machine, a date cartermined path,`a knifemade up of a pair of relatively movablecutting members, means for imparting relative movement between said carrier and said knife in a direction to-r ward said path to cause said knife to slit the, date on said carrier, means for moving said members apart after they have entered the date, and an ejector to rextract the pit from the date, said ejector being disposed independently of the carrier and beyond said knife in the direction of movement of the carrier.

2. In adate pitting machine, a movable date carrier, means for centering the pit of a date therein, a slitting knife, means for moving the knife toward and away from the date in the carrier to slit the date and move clear of the slit date, means for extracting the pit from the slit date, and means for moving the carrier and extracting means relatively to cause extraction of the pit.

8. In a date pitting machine, a date carrier mounted for movement 'along a predetermined path, means for centering the pit within the date, a slitting knife, means for imparting relative movement between said carrier and said knife in a direction toward said path to cause said knife toslit the date and an ejector to extract the pit from the date.

4. In a date pitting machine, a date car.- rier, means for centering the pit within the date, a reciprocating slitting knife mounted for movement towardy said carrier, means for extracting the'pit from said slit date and means for discharging the pitted date from said carrier.

5. In a date ypitting'machine, a date carrier, means for opening the date in said car rier including a pair' of movable members entering said date for spreading theI date open, means for ejectingthe pit from the opened date and means forvdischarging said pitted date from said carrier.

6. In a date pitting machine, a movable date carrier, means for centering the pit witbin the date in said carrier, means for opening the date including a pair of movable members for piercing the side of the date on the carrier and spreading the date open, means adjacent the path of travel'of the carrier for ejecting the pit yfrom* the opened date and means for discharging said pitted date from said carrier. i

` 7. In a date pitting machine, a movable date carrier, a'knife for slitting andspreading the date in said carrier includingv a pair pit from the date, said ejector being'disposed independently of said carrier and beyond said -knifewin thedirection'of movement of said carrier. rier mounted for movement along a prede 8. In a date pitting machine. a movable date carrier, means for centering the pit within the date in said carrier, afknife for slitting and spreading said date including a pair of movable members, means for actuating said members first to make an incision in the date and then to spread the side walls of the cut date, an ejector for extracting the pit from y the date, and means for discharging the pitted date. from said carrier. Y

' 9. In a date pitting machine, a movable date carrier, means for opening the date in said carrier including a pair of movable members for spreading the side Walls of said date, means for cleaning the surfaces of said inembersY during their movement, and means for ejecting. the pit from the opened date.

l0. In a date pitting machine, a movable dat-'e carrier, provided With a pocket for a date, a knife for slitting and spreading the date in said pocket including a pair of separable blades meeting in a common cutting edge, and means for extracting the pit from the date in said pocket after said date has been slitted. Y

l1. In a date pitting machine, amovable date carrier, va knife for slitting and spreading a date in said carrier including a pair of separable blades meeting in a common cutting edge, means for actuating said knife to cause said members to enter said date and move apart to spread the meat of the date, and the means for cleaningthe interior contacting surfaces of' said blades.

12. In a date pitting machine, a date ejector, a plurality of horizontal pins terminating in vertically disposed blades` adapted to project into said carrier and to penetrate said date to center the pit therein, a knife for slitting the date,- and a'pit ejector for removing the pit from the'datethrough the slit.'`

13. In a date pitting machine, a date carrier having a pocket therein to receive a date, a transfer conveyor for automatically feedingdates to said carrier, a plunger for transferring the datesV from said conveyor intoy said pocket, means for retaining the dates insaid pocket, and pit removing elements disposed adjacent said carrierv to removeY the pits from the dates supported therein. i

"14.V In 'a date'pitting machine, a date carrie-r having a po'cket'therein to receive a date, a transfer lconveyory for automatically feeding dates to said carrier, a plunger for` transferring the dates from said conveyor into said pocket, means for retainingl the dates in said pocket, and pit removing elements including pit centering elementsdisposed adjacent said carrier to remove the pits from the dates supported therein.

f 15. In a date pitting machine, a reciprocating (date carrierhaving a pocket therein to receive a date, a transfer conveyor for automatically transferring dates to said carrier, Ymeans for retaining the dates yin said carrier, means operable after a predetermined movement of said carrier to' connect said retaining means tov said carrier, and pit extractingA elements disposed adjacent said carrier operable to remove pits from the dates in said carrier asthe carrier passessaid elements. c

16. In a date pitting machine, a reciproeating date carrier having a pocket therein to receive a date, a transfer Vconveyor for automatically transferring dates to said carrier, means for retaining the dates in said carrier, means operable after a predetermined movement of said carrier to connect said retaining means to said carrier, means for discharging a cleaning fluid through said means Y and over'said carrier and associate parts at each reciprocation of said carrier, and pit extracting elements disposedadjacent said carrier operable to remove pits from dates in said carrier as the carrier passes said elements.

Y'17. In a date pitting machine, a reciproeating date carrier having a pocket therein to receive a date, a transfer carrier for automatically feeding dates to said carrier, a plunger for transferring the dates from said conveyor to said pocket,and a second plunger for retaining the date in said pocket, means for connecting said latter plunger to said carrier to reciprocate therewith for acertain l A, portion of the travel of said carrier, and pit 90 extracting' elements for removing the pit from the date as the carrier carries the date therein past said elements.

18. In a date pitting machine, a carrier for supporting a date, a knife for`slitting the date, .and a date ejector for `discharging the date from the carrier comprising a pivoted finger, means forurging said finger in Vone direction anda Vlatch for retaining said finj ger against the effect of said latter means, Y1110 and means controlled by said carrier for v tripping said latch to cause the finger to discharge the date from 'the carrier. Y

19. In a` date pitting machine, the combination of a carrier having a pocket for re- '105 ceiving a date, means mounted in openings in the Walls of the pocket and having a plurality of surfaces disposed in alrovv lengthvviseof the date and adapted to engage the meat of the date for centering the pit, actuating means 1'10 vfor said centering means, and means operable to engage and extract the centered pit from the date. f

20. In a date pitting machine, a carrierV y having a pocket for receiving a date, plung- U5 ers movablein openings in the Walls of the pocket and having relatively long narrow end surfaces adapted to `engage the meat of the date for centering the pit, means for mov-I j ing said plungers on opposite sides of the date toward each other to center the pit, and means operable to engage and extract the pit from the date during movementy of saidcarrier. i

21. In adate pitting machine, the combi- 125 nation of a carrier having a pocket forreceiving a date, said carrier'being movable vin a horizontal plane, plungers movable in open- `ings in opposite Walls of the pocket and hav- Ing relatively long narrow end surfaces, 130

means for moving said plungers on opposite sides of said date toward each other in a horizontal plane to cause the ends of said plungers to press against the meat of the date and center the pit therein, and means 0perable to engageand extract the centered pit from the date.

22. In a date pitting machine, the combination of a carrier having a pocket for receiving a date, plungers movable in openings in opposite Walls of the pocket and having relatively long narrow 'ends7 said plungers being operable on movement toward each other to engage the meat of said date at their ends to center the pit, means including cams for effecting movement of said plungers, and means for engaging and extracting the centered pit.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe ALBERT K. SMITH.

- my signature. 

